Trent@Montreat

"Your Heart's Desire"

April 16 - April 19, 2018

“Life changing, ministry changing. Renewed my passion for serving and getting more involved in my community.” Trent@Montreat is back and ready for you in 2018. Come to be inspired and learn helpful ways to deal with some of the most challenging aspects of any ministry. Leave with a network of support, resources, and ideas. Hear more from the planning team about why Trent is important! Download the printable flier for Trent@Montreat 2018.To see a list of the tracks offered this year, please click on the WORKSHOPS tab above.

Donate to Trent@Montreat

Registration is open! Special incentive for 2017 seminary graduates! 20% off the program fee (does not apply to housing or meals).

Comprehensive Rates

Comprehensive rates below include conference fee, room in Assembly Inn, meals in the Galax Dining Room (Monday supper through Thursday breakfast), plus a $3 community services fee.* Rooms are assigned on a first come, first served basis.

Double Occupancy, Private Bath: $322.00 per person

Single Occupancy, Private Bath: $455.50 per person

Commuter Rate

$108 per person (includes $3 community services fee*)

Optional meal packages for the Galax Dining Room may be requested when you register online. (These additional charges will be added separately by the registrar.)

$80.50 per person for Monday supper thru Thursday breakfast

$19.00 per person forlunches only on Tuesday & Wednesday

Refund Policy

Cancellations must be received by March 5, 2018 in order to receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. Cancellations received after March 5, 2018 but on or before April 9, 2018 will receive a 50% refund of the conference fee and payments made toward room and meal charges (if applicable) less $40. No refunds will be issued after April 9, 2018. All requests must be in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail.

Contact the Registrar

If you have any questions about the registration process, please email the registrar at SusanA@montreat.org or call 828.419.9829.

*Community services fee of $1 per night per adult is charged for public services provided by the Town and the fire district.

Track Leaders

Rev. Dr. Ed McLeod has been senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh, NC, since August 2004. Prior to his move to Raleigh, he served three churches in South Carolina: Eastminster Presbyterian in Columbia, First Presbyterian in Greer, and First Presbyterian Church in Sumter. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, and received his doctor of ministry at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. He has served on the Board of Trustees at both Union Presbyterian Seminary and William Peace University.

Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet is pastor of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, PA, since January, 2013, having previously served churches in Columbia, SC, Decatur and Atlanta, GA. She is a graduate of Davidson College, and Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA, and received her doctor of ministry degree in Bible and preaching from Columbia Theological Seminary. Agnes has sermons and articles published in The Abingdon Women’s Preaching Annual, The Presbyterian Outlook, Interpretation: A Journal for Bible and Theology, Lectionary Homiletics, and is a regular contributor and associate editor of Journal for Preachers. An early organizer of NEXT Church, Agnes has enjoyed serving the denomination as guest preacher for many special occasions and conferences, and is currently a Trustee of Union Presbyterian Seminary.

Rev. Elizabeth Link serves as the associate pastor for Christian education at Second Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, VA. She received her degree in Christian education from Presbyterian College in SC, and served as a director of Christian education before sensing a call to seminary. She graduated from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond in 2009. In addition to her ministry in Roanoke, Elizabeth has served congregations in Florida, South Carolina, and Indiana. She is passionate about her work as an educator, and served as co-leader of the Christian education track for Trent@Montreat in 2016. She directs the Trent Colloquy for the Presbytery of the Peaks and participates in the annual Trent Symposium at Second Presbyterian, Roanoke. She is a part of the planning team for this conference, and is excited to share her great joy for the teaching ministry of the church.

Rev. Paul Roberts Sr. is president of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA, a position he has held since the spring of 2010. Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary is one of the ten theological schools of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the only one that is historically African American. Paul graduated from Princeton University in 1985 with a BA in Architecture and African American Studies. Prior to his career in ministry, Paul worked for eight years in advertising in New York City. Paul later received his MDiv with a concentration in New Testament Studies from Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA. Paul is a contributing writer to Pastoral Care: A Case Study Approach (Orbis Books,1998), and to Feasting on the Gospels (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2013).

Dr. Tony McNeillhas been serving as the director of worship and the arts at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church (America’s “Freedom Church”) for four years. Prior to coming to Atlanta, Dr. McNeill was a visiting lecturer in choral music at his alma mater, Appalachian State University (Boone, NC) from 2010-2012. He earned the bachelor of music education degree from Appalachian State University; a masters degree in choral conducting from Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL); and a doctorate of worship studies from the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies (Orange Park, FL). In addition to his work at Historic Ebenezer, Dr. McNeill is a member of the staff of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, based in Atlanta, where he serves as program director of The African American Institute of Worship, Preaching, and Sacred Arts. He has presented at The Hampton Ministers Conference, Duke Divinity School, The American Baptist College (Nashville, TN), Shaw University, and served as Artist-in-Residence for the past three years at Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, NJ) for its Black Theology and Leadership Institute.

Rev. Dr. Millie Snyder earned a bachelor of arts degree with honors in psychology from Davidson College; a master of divinity with a concentration in preaching from Princeton Theological Seminary; and a doctor of ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. She has served congregations in Rochester Hills, Michigan and in Matthews, NC. Millie was called to Myers Park Presbyterian Church in August of 2004. She serves as executive pastor there and is responsible for overall coordination and implementation of the church’s ministries. Millie also serves on the Board of the Presbyterian Outlook and the Board of Trustees of Columbia Theological Seminary.

Rev. Dr. Ernie Thompson serves as pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greensboro NC, and has served other 4 other churches in NC, SC and VA over 29 years of ministry. He is a graduate of Union Presbyterian Seminary and Columbia Seminary.

Rev. Dr. Glen Bell is one of the pastors at First Presbyterian Church in Sarasota. He participates on the strategy team and executive team of NEXT Church, the board of the Presbyterian Outlook, and the president’s roundtable at Louisville Seminary. He has served churches large and small in North Carolina, Indiana, and Florida.

Rev. Katherine Kerr is originally from Jacksonville, Florida, but has called North Carolina home for much of her adult life. After graduating from Davidson College in 1993, she lived in Asheville and Davidson before returning to school, where she received a master’s degree in counseling from Wake Forest University and was a school counselor with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for three years. During that time, Katherine began to sense a call to ministry, and enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in the fall of 2002. Upon graduation in 2005, she accepted a call to First Presbyterian Church in Oxford, Mississippi, where she served until being called to First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte in January 2008.

Rev. Bertram Johnson is minister of advocacy, justice, and change at Riverside Church in New York City. He has provided pastoral care and social service leadership in churches, non-profits, and faith-based organizations dedicated to justice and public health. Most recently, Bertram worked nationally to promote awareness and access to prevention and support services among communities most disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. Bertram holds a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a master of social work from Rutgers University.

Rev. Dr. Aram Bae – Ministry with youth and their families is the stuff of Aram Bae’s heart. Shoes and barbeque aside, Aram is most passionate about the faith development of teens, equipping parents, and partnering with the larger faith community on how to best address questions of faith and spirituality during adolescence. This is what speaks to the heart and soul of her calling. Aram began her studies in education in college, majoring in education and child studies at Smith College, and taught fifth grade before going to Princeton Seminary for her M.Div. She continued her focus on faith development at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, pursuing a master of Christian education, and delved deeper in youth ministry with a dissertation in practical theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. During her doctoral work, she served as the director of family ministries at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. She is now in her first call as associate pastor for youth and mission at First Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, VA.

Rev. Sarah Brouwer began her work as an ordained minister at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, IN, as a Lake Fellow Resident. There she was mentored by seasoned pastors in a very large church setting and was able to experiment with different worship styles and liturgical art. In 2011 she was called to serve as associate pastor of member care at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, MO. At Westminster in Minneapolis, she oversees communications, hospitality, and fellowship, including the young adult group WestConnect. She attended St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary.

Rev. Dr. Felipe N. Martinez is a fourth generation Presbyterian born in Monterrey, Mexico. He came to the United States in 1981 to enroll in the high school at the Presbyterian Pan American School in Kingsville, Texas. Twice a graduate from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, he earned his MDiv in 1992 and completed his DMin in 2005. Felipe has served congregations, presbyteries, and commuities in Illinois and Indiana over two decades, and is currently the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Indiana.

The Rev. Dr. Thomas K. Tewell has been an ordained Presbyterian minister for over 35 years and has served congregations in Bethlehem, PA and New Providence, NJ, as well as Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX and Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Each of the congregations Tom has served has experienced significant numerical, spiritual and financial growth and has become deeply involved in ministry to the local community. Currently, Tom is the founder and executive director of Macedonian Ministry, a position he has held since 2008. This ministry gives Tom a unique opportunity to serve as a pastor to pastors. His sermons and articles have in published in Christian Century, Christianity Today and numerous clergy journals, as well as in books on preaching. Tom is a graduate of Muskingum University in Ohio, Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey and earned his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Drew Theological School in New Jersey.

Track Descriptions

You may attend one track during the conference. Each track is limited to 15 participants and is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. When you register, you must provide your first, second, and third choice. To learn more about the track leaders, click on the LEADERSHIP tab above.

The Glory and the Grind of Preaching
Preaching is a call to both a regular discipline and a long term adventure. We will explore practices to help proclaim a fresh Word as the year unfolds through: imagining new approaches to Bible study, cultivating good conversation partners, gathering helpful resources, establishing rhythms of pastoral and prophetic preaching, and engaging ideas participants bring to the shared joy of proclamation. Led by Ed McLeod and Agnes Norfleet

Written on Our Hearts: Education for Transformation
Our Reformed tradition is known for its depth of theology and learning. Yet today our lives do not always align with traditional models of Christian Education. It was John Calvin who said faith is “revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts.” Join me as we discern the ways we are called to teach God’s Word for transformation within the life of the church. Come prepared to create blueprints and build an intentional program for Christian Education for your context, so that you may equip and engage disciples with the passion and joy of “faith seeking understanding.” Led by Elizabeth Link

Convergence: Exploring New Paths for Music, Worship & JusticeJoin an engaging conversation with Paul Roberts and Tony McNeill as they lead a time of reflection and inquiry for those interested in discovering the possibilities and challenges that lie at the intersection of worship, justice and music. Persons who are longing for ways of creating communities of justice through worship and the arts are encouraged to attend. Led by Paul Roberts and Tony McNeill

Staff as a Gift Instead of a HeadacheThe relationships with staff (such as musicians, administrative assistants, youth workers and educators) are crucial for your success in ministry and for the health of your congregation. In this track, an experienced leader will walk you through pragmatic leaderships skills in dealing with church staff. You will learn skills that can be used on day one when you get back to your church and you will receive practical tools to implement easily. We will discuss job descriptions, hiring processes, evaluation models and healthy team dynamics. Led by Millie Snyder

Leadership in Times of ConflictIn Acts 15 we’re told that Paul and Barnabas got into an argument with certain individuals, and that “there was no small dissension and debate.” The first church council was called to sort it all out. And so it goes in the church. The question is not whether there will be conflict, but rather how we handle it when it comes. Ernie learned about conflict the hard way, by living through it, but also discovered how conflict can lead to growth and even grace. We’ll look at how good leadership can make a difference, and discuss concrete strategies for when conflict comes. Led by Ernie Thompson

Vision and the Down and Dirty: Strategic Planning Here and Now
How do we develop a common vision for our congregation? In this difficult time of discord, we will learn to invite our leaders and participants to recognize the nudges of the Holy Spirit. This intriguing mix includes the hidden gifts of the congregation, the growing edges of the community around us, and the energy of our own individual passions. Led by Glen Bell

Nurturing the Caring Congregation
As pastors, we can tend to take for granted that our congregations will be caring places, and that we will naturally know how to provide the best care for those we seek to serve. But that is not always the case. In this track, we will look at what makes a caring congregation, and the role of the pastor in nurturing not just individuals, but the congregation as a whole. Led by Katherine Kerr

The Pursuit of JusticeSince its beginning, churches in the United States have taught that our personal faith practices are the identifier of spiritual maturity and union with God. Individualistic theologies have permitted generations of Christians to claim deep personal convictions while remaining either passive to the plight of the poor or active agents in the oppression of our neighbors. This workshop seeks to equip pastors with tools to analyze their personal and congregational contexts for opportunities to develop theological practices that call all God’s people into a deeper pursuit of God’s justice. Led by Bertram Johnson

Ministry with Youth 101
This track focuses on the the basics of ministry with youth and their families. We will explore the 5W’s of ministry with youth: who, what, when, where, and–most importantly–why. For those who are concerned with the growing demographic of the “spiritual but not religious” (18-29yo) this is the track for you. The youth among us both spiritual AND religious. How we minister and partner with them will make a difference on which “box” they check on the census bureau as they turn the corner towards adulthood. Come and see how to make that difference. Led by Aram Bae

Ministry with Young AdultsMinistry with young adults in the twenty-first century is a challenge for many reasons, but their presence in our churches is life-giving. In this track we will talk about how to listen to the Millennial generation, we will explore best practices for ministering with young adults, we will discuss how to mentor them for leadership, and we’ll think about the importance of outreach and communication. Led by Sarah Brouwer

Solo, Not Alone: The Solo Pastor and His/Her Gifted Congregation
Ministry as a solo pastor brings its own blessings and challenges. Starting with the assumption that God has uniquely blessed and equipped you as a solo pastor, your congregation and community, participants will explore how to rely on those strengths/assets and seek collaboration when addressing new challenges. The conversation among participants will acknowledge the wisdom each contributes, use their concerns/questions to invite dialogue, and will integrate reading on subjects such as Asset Based Community Development. Led by Felipe N. Martinez

Exegeting Your CommunityEvery person wants to be involved in a mission greater than themselves. The challenge for the Christian church in this time in history is to find creative ways to empower lay people for their ministries in society and to mobilize congregations to “take on trouble” in their local communities. This track will help the participants to “ exegete their local community” so their congregation can respond to the radical call of the Gospel that gives meaning and purpose to our lives! Led by Tom Tewell

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